Praising God

Psalm 148:1-6

By Bo Prossert

Creation is groaning and has gotten our attention recently. The fury of hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes; the rumblings of volcanoes, earthquakes, and mudslides; warming of polar caps, destruction of acid rain: all this and more demand that we pay attention. If we listen closely, we will hear the groans of our world-not just its inhabitants but also the trees, the stones, the water, the air! Are we listening? Are we responding?

God commanded, and the heavens were created. God commanded, and all was established. We didn’t have anything to do with the creation of the sun, moon, and stars. We had nothing to do with the blue of the sky or the black of the thundercloud. The heavens declare with praise the greatness of God. The angels sing praise. We must pay attention! We must hear the groanings and respond appropriately.

Today the psalmist calls us to pay attention to the groanings of creation and to honor its praises. Yet we pollute the air; we poi­son the environment. We consume and discard without thought. The psalmist asks that we care as much for our natural resources as we care for our own families. It’s not about hugging trees; it’s about fulfilling our role as caretakers!

Take a moment and listen to the sounds of creation. Hear the groanings; hear the praise. Join the created order in praising God and praying for the redemption of God’s world.

PRAYER:

God of heaven and earth, help me pay attention to the groanings of your world. Help me to be more caretaker than consumer. May I honor your created order even as that created order honors you! Amen.